Efforts must be made for the development of individual breeders and businesses along chains of meat production, says Senior General

If modern manufacturing technologies are applied in breeding pedigree farming cattle, it is sure to become a country with food sufficiency and socio-economic development in line with the policy of the government, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the opening ceremony of the Livestock Show and Contest 2022 jointly organized by the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department and the Myanmar Livestock Federation at Setsetyo Ground near Koeywa Thabyegon Village in Pobbathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw Council Area yesterday morning as a gesture of hailing the Diamond Jubilee Union Day.
The Senior General, the Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation and the Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council cut the ribbon to open the show and contest.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said that the majority of the population is primarily engaged in agriculture but some in the livestock breeding separately. Myanmar has the necessary natural resources to operate not only the agricultural tasks but the livestock breeding tasks. If modern manufacturing technologies are applied in breeding pedigree farming cattle, it is sure to become a country with food sufficiency and socio-economic development in line with the policy of the government.
Chicken, pork, goat, beef and fish are the main eatable meals in Myanmar. According to the animal census in 2019, there were 8.8 million domestic cows, more than 50,000 dairy cows, more than 50,000 gayals(mithuns) and over 1.6 million buffalos, totalling over 10.6 million. A similar census was enumerated in 2021, showing that there were 3.7 million pigs, 30.8 million broilers, 28.5 million layers, 38.55 million domestic chickens and 2.22 million sheep and goats in the country.
The government allowed the legal export of cattle to foreign markets as of 9 October 2017. In this regard, the cattle flow out to China through the Muse route. Moreover, the cattle are sold out to Bangladesh and Thailand both legally and illegally. The government is striving for extending the agreements for trading and freedom of animal disease in order to export the cattle to regional and international markets. Illegal exportation brings loss to the State.
In Myanmar, the Senior General noted that an individual person consumes 9.5 visses of chicken, three visses of pork, 1.7 visses of beef and 0.24 viss of goat per year. According to the studies, individuals need to consume five to 10 ticals of meat or fish on a daily basis. Efforts must be made for the development of individual breeders and businesses along chains of meat production. The farmers engaging in both agriculture and livestock breeding need to apply modern breeding techniques for having benefits.
Holding this show and contest in line with the health guidelines of COVID-19 for 2022 is a milestone for Myanmar in its efforts to develop the livestock breeding sector. If Myanmar and neighbouring countries have a development of economy, breeders’ income will increase as well as meat and dairy product consumption rate will be higher. Production of quality and safe meat, milk and egg, nutritious consumption at home and exportation will help the Myanmar people have a prosperous life in the future.
The Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation explained the holding of the exhibition.
The Senior General viewed the display of cows, buffalos, sheep and goats in the contest, booths of companies, feedstuffs, medicines, machinery and value-added products related to the livestock breeding sector and asked for further information.
The show and contest comprising 145 booths for public observation will take place till 30 January. —MNA